Claudius: ((Ahh, the underground...I love being the only guy who ever ST's in here. *G*))

Ita McNairee: (laughs) *the gypsy is sitting on a blanket, curled up and waiting on Claudius like a loyal dog waiting for her master to return*

Ita McNairee: (!!?)

Ita McNairee: *she's sorting through her phone messages, and satisfied that nothing new is on there, she shoves her phone away*

Claudius: He opens one of the three doors in, carrying a stack of his usual 'intelligence briefings.' After he closes the door, which grinds shut, he smiles to Ita on his way to the chair. "Good evening, my dear. How are you?"

Ita McNairee: Fine love.. ah've some news fer ye... Fausto trapped em another vamp ah reckon.. look.. *she starts digging through the purse for her phone....

Claudius: "Miss Raines, correct?" He sits on the chair and starts sorting through the intelligence. "I had a brief text conversation with Fausto this evening. He mentioned he had captured her."

Ita McNairee: Aye.. ee says.. well.. eer.. *shows claud the text msg, which says "have lick who attacked Arlett. Says is Cam. Brujah. will turn her over to Anarchs for punishment (violating treaty). U need to intro her to the Nos ASAP Needs Golconda. "*

Claudius: He smiles a little. "Golconda, eh? So I am the Golconda man, now." He chuckles slightly at that.

Ita McNairee: *shrugs and scrunches her face* Ah'm nae sure ee kains exactly wha et means love... aye? *ita moved over to sit at his feet and rest her head against his leg*

Claudius: He shakes his head. "He has an idea. He and I...had a discussion, when I made my arrangement to retrieve Mr. Readman's vitae." He looks at Ita a moment, head cocked slightly to the right. "What do you know of Golconda, Ita?"

Ita McNairee: ye've nae ta drink mooch blood, oor any.. ah thenk.. an.. well..*considers, head on the noss's knee as she looks up* My Ezra said et was bat shite..causen naewan can ootthenk their monster..

Ita McNairee: ee said folks en "golconda" dinnae fly entae tha red. Et soonds awfi nice.

Ita McNairee: Ezra said tha et was all shite tho.. *then she chuckles* then again.. Ezra's scared O' werewolves tae.

Claudius: He smiles. "That's actually a wise position on Lupines, my dear. But no, Golconda is not 'bat shit.' It's our chance at Salvation...our Redemption. I know of one who acheived it."

Ita McNairee: *pfft. ita wasn't scared of werewolves. they were like dogs. Ita liked dogs. the pikey perks up, listening intently at the nos's feet. she fiddles with his robe, twisting it between her fingers, as she nods* Aye love? Sae et ES real?

Claudius: He laughs softly, not mockingly, but in genuine amusement. "Indeed it is, Ita. Either that, or the man I knew had levels of control over his Beast I can't comprehend otherwise, and was leading me on a line. I hope for the former, as I seek Golconda myself."

Ita McNairee: *nods* aye.. *looks at the nos like one might stare at a modern art statue.. not entirely sure what to make of it. she nods again as if cnfirming something* Aye loves..

Ita McNairee: ..sae.. wha.. ah . hmmm. *she stops to consider her words more carefuly* are ye gie'en there?

Claudius: He nods. "I try. It's...difficult, when you are in the political position I am, to keep hold to your humanity. I try, and most times, I succeed. I have seen too many become ravening beasts, slaves to the whims of their Beasts, to allow myself to do any different."

Ita McNairee: aye.. ah jes dinnae wan tae become nae fooken baby killer.. *shakes her head* Ah dinnae kain.. ah reckon there are humes tha are far worsen ah am..even wi'out tha badness we vamps ave. *looks up at the nos, then gives a sigh and crawls up on him, so she can look him in the face. she gives a smile* But yer like tha preacher loves. ye dinnae seem tae have Nae badness en ye et aul. yer a good felly.

Claudius: He smiles at that, putting the papers aside. "Ita, I appreciate the praise, but the fact of the matter is, I make decisions every day that could potentially erode my humanity away. Most you will never know about. I have to do these, in order to survive and keep New York safe from the Sabbat. I pray to God that I make the right decisions, but I know they further Damn me regardless of whether they are right or not."

Ita McNairee: like wha love? *furrows her brow, perched on him he can practically see the gypsy gears working in that brain of hers* ye. hmmff. *shakes her head* Ah reckon ets nae sae peachy haven tae run et aul..aye? but.. yer do'en aulright sae far..aye? *her eyes light up* yer still a goody.

Claudius: He nods. "I am doing fine, yes." He looks at her. "What do you think of Golconda, personally?"

Ita McNairee: Ah reckon.. *gnaws at her lip and looks at her lap a moment, before responding* Ah reckon ets somethen tae work towards.. an hope fer... but nae somethen tae count on. *nods to herself* Aye. Ah reckon et wouldnae be near a myth effen every tom an jack could jes dae et..aye? ah reckon ets a wee bet like wennen tha lotto?

Claudius: He smilles in amusement at that. "No, it's not easy. It takes a lot of work, but the rewards are numerous. Have you ever considered working toward it?"

Ita McNairee: Aye.. but.. well. ah dinnae thenk ah'll ever be mooch o an angel loves.. like.. effen somewan were tae mess wie wan o me folks.. ah'd rip em tae peices effen ah could.. causen thas tha right way tae dae thengs.. kain? a felly ripped tae peices cannae haram yer folks nae moore. ah'm nae tae mooch fer turn yer cheek an grinnen. ye kain?

Ita McNairee: *the pikey looks grimly determined, and a little sad. she could hardly protect her family and her friends if she was an angel*

Claudius: "I know that, Ita. All I'm asking is whether you'd like to work toward it." He leans forward and comes off the chair, putting himself on an equal level to Ita. "Ita, to be honest, I've never seen someone so concerned about their own humanity on their own. I think you are unconsciously searching for Golconda, even if you do not realize it. And, if you are willing, I would like to help you find it."

Ita McNairee: *scrunches her face, and then gives a nod. what the hell.. its not like it could hurt any.. all that could happen would be good things..right? she nibbles her lip and then looks up at the nosferatu* Aye then loves. Effen ye thenk.. Aye. Ah'd like tha.. *nods with more coviction* aye.

Claudius: He smiles. "Good. And the first thing I would like you to do is treat yourself as if you are an equal to others. You are not a lesser being, Ita. Nor are you superior to others, like some of our kind think. You are an equal, no matter what you or others think."

Ita McNairee: Aye. *cringes a little. she could think of people that would likely respond in new found assertiveness by slapping some more submissivenes into her* AYe ah kain love.. ets jes sometimes ets eaier tae handle folk effen they thenk yer nae a threat.. ye kain? some folk are.. touchy, bout rank...

Claudius: He smiles a bit sadly. "I assume you mean the Archons and your friend Fausto."

Ita McNairee: well aye.. an... well.. aul packs have leaders aye? an ah kain tha the only way AH'm gintae be a leader es effen ah make meself some friends and make et safe afore ah round me up a wee family .. sae ah'm content tae be low right noow. an the ARCHONS dinnae figure entae et.. *she gives a little snarl*

Claudius: He nods, understanding in his mismatched eyes. "You can be the low person on the so-called totem pole, and still consider yourself a person, Ita. Others may think you are not, but believe me, you are more worthy of that title then most of the primogen."

Ita McNairee: och ah kain love.. ah jes.. ah dinnae kain..*sighs and looks away* ah dinnae mooch feel like a very GOOD fooken person, when me ma's dyen an aul ah can dae es send a foken money note tae her.. causen ah cannae see er like thes. *ita sigh heavuky and gnaws her lip, before looking back at the nos with an apologetic smile* aH kain wha ye mean loves, dinnae worry over ita..aye?

Claudius: He nods at that. "I know it can be difficult to watch your mortal world pass you by. Surviving it with your humanity intact will be perhaps the hardest trial you ever have to endure. But I think you can do it." He smiles a little, and reaches out, brushing an errant hair back from her face. "And I will always worry about you, Ita, because I care."

Ita McNairee: *gives a sudden whimper and moves to bury her head in the Claud's shoulder, unable to hold back the tears that suddenly demanded crying. she didn't want her mortal world to pass her by.. the pikey presses her head against the nos hard, trying to stop crying*

Claudius: He sighs a little, though not in frustration, and holds Ita softly, smoothing her hair as he lets her cry.

Ita McNairee: *murmers in the midst of a muffled sob* ah'm soory love.. ah'm a great wuss, ah kain.. ah.. *wraps her arms around the primogen. at least she had other folks.. but.. even then.. arlett was going to die...and travis.. but not the noss.. that was comforting at least... she calms herself and gives little whine as she leaned back and wiped her eyes* Ah'm soory loves.. thank ye.

Claudius: He nods. "Of course, Ita. It is not weakness that makes you do so, but compassion. Compassion is a great strength. Remember that."

Ita McNairee: *furrows her brow as she wipes the rest of the blood off her face with her sleeve* Fausto told me tha .. och ah dinnae kain.. some shite aboot a samuari ...an accepten tha everywan's dead fer tae be a good fighter.. *shakes her head*

Claudius: He shakes his head. "Fausto is a hardened man. He cannot afford himself compassion when it comes to us. However, I would hope that even he has those he cares about. Otherwise, he would not be alive. A man without compassion is a man without hope, and without hope, men get themselves killed."

Ita McNairee: aye ... nae samuari.. *nodding.. well.. at least that made sense. Ita scratched at her head and gave a huff, as if forcing the sad out. she gave a cheeky smile to the nos, and gave him a hug* Och, yer an easy folk tae love Claud. Sae wha've I tae dae tae help wi thes golconda?

Claudius: "Well, many of the steps, you already practice. I do not feed upon mortals, in order to retain my humanity. I try to avoid getting involved with the Jyhad as much as possible, and I try to live my life as morally as I can. For now, simply do everything you can to retain your humanity. That will be an excellent start."

Ita McNairee: aye.. *she frowns.. thinking of all that entails*

Ita McNairee: right.. aye. *gnaws her lip, she guessed there would be no revenge then. well.. that didn't thrill her too much...*

Claudius: "Should you need guidance, I will of course be happy to provide it." He looks at her, eyes even in level to hers as he sits on the floor with her. "I will be here to help you do this...to help you through it. And I know you can."

Ita McNairee: *gives a sideways grin, nodding and meeting his mismatched eyes with her head tilted.* Thank ye Claudius. *she scooted close and kissed the top of his oddly formed head with a sigh, before sinking back to sit.. she owed the noss a great deal* Thank ye fer aul o et. Effen there's anytheng ah can do fer ye, anytheng et aul. ye jes say aye? *the gangrel nodded. apparently you could take the girl out of the Pikies, but you couldn't take the Pikies out of the girl*

Claudius: He nods. "Thank you for the offer. I may need it soon." He scowls darkly, for the first time that Ita may have ever seen. "The Camarilla has rejected the treaty."

Ita McNairee: WHAT? *ita's face fell* BUT WHY??!! ets fer fooken peace! Wi tha WERES fer christs sake! Jaysus wept! ARG! fooken cammarilla... *hisses* why?!

Ita McNairee: *the angry gypsy looks at Claud, fully expecting him to have an answer. he was the answer man after all*

Claudius: He sighs, standing up (with effort) and pacing. "Mostly, because of superiority attitudes toward the rest of the world. The argument was made that we were gioving too much up, and not getting anything in return. Also, that we have survived without treaties before, why should now be any different." He shakes his head, a bit of anger (!) showing. "They do not realize the dangerous predicament this puts us in."

Ita McNairee: Aye.. tha weres are nae gintae like tha mooch fer WAN.. *considers this long and hard* AN,, tha means tha ets better fer the weres tae have thes city run by baddies oor anarchs, than the cammies. AH dinnae mooch wan tae quarrel wi tha weres.... *cringes as she sees Claud's mood, and moves to perch in his chair, out of his pacing area* Och love..

Claudius: He nods. "Exactly. Which is why, and you must keep this secret from everyone, vampire and not, I have arranged a deal to keep to the treaty for Clan Nosferatu, outside of the Camarilla. We will uphold the treaty, and we will be left alone." He looks to her. "You, of course, are protected due to your association with the Anarchs, so you needn't worry."

Ita McNairee: Aye. secret kept. en fact.. ah'll actively ferget et. *grins* ye take good care o yer folks love.

Ita McNairee: *she draws her knees to her chest and smiles warmly at the nos, head cocked as she admired him. he was a funny looking man, but she liked and admired him all the more, the more time she spent with him*

Claudius: He nods. "It is my job. Don't even mention it to Fausto, though he knows, of course. He warned me of descretion, and considering his volitile nature, I don't want him jumping to conclusions. In the meantime, if you are looking for new friends, I might suggest a Gangrel I have recently been made aware of...a Dennis Vestal. He is nominally Camarilla, but I would imagine he would be as much so as you are Anarch...by association only."